Sustainable Development and Living

Before we progress any further into this subject let us turn to the scriptures. Concerning the tabernacle in the wilderness Moses was instructed, "Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you" (Exodus 25:9 NIV). This is corroborated in several other places in the bible:

 

• "See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Exodus 25:40 NIV).

 

• "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain" (Exodus 26:30).

 

• "Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen" (Exodus 7:44).

 

In the New Testament, in Hebrews 8:5 specifically, the writer gives us the reason why everything had to be built according to pattern.

 

• "They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).

 

Evidently, whatever Moses was tasked with building temporarily here on earth was representative of something permanent that exists in the heavens.  As I write this blog I am reminded of Jesus' instruction to the disciples when they asked that he teach them how to pray.  One verse in particular is relevant to this discourse.

 

• "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth" (Luke 11:12).

 

That statement is an intent of the Father's will: that that which exists in the spiritual realm, where God dwells, even where there is perfect and divine order, be manifested here on earth, even on this planet over which we have been given authority.

 

Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 contains another statement of Father's intent.

 

• "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Gen. 1:26 KJV).

 

This charge that was given to mankind is called the dominion mandate by some. Dr. Stephen Jones in several of his writings goes into great detail concerning this. I strongly recommend further research into this subject. Suffice it to say, that man operating in the perfect will of God, will interact with nature in a way that is yet to be seen. Furthermore, whatever said man does on earth will be done in a way that is safe for mankind and the earth itself and thus sustainable.

 

The man that operates according to the dominion mandate is a man that builds according to spiritual pattern or principles that he receives from God. Such a man is never self-determined or presumptuous. Rather, He acknowledges God in absolutely everything that he does. This is the manner in which our archetype, Jesus Christ, lived.

 

Jesus said it the following way:

 

• Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise (John 5:19).

 

Jesus lived according to the pattern He saw in the spiritual realm where His father dwells. Jesus did something over two thousand years ago and its impact is still being felt. He came to die but he lived like he would never die.

 

Jesus started his ministry when he was thirty years old as a mature man. Very likely he was born gifted, having the power to do the miraculous but he waited until the time was right. He spent the three years of ministry here on earth primarily training and mentoring his disciples. After He left those men that he groomed were able to evangelize the then known world.

 

Jesus' statement, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14), taken in context has already been fulfilled. By the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the end that Jesus was referring to, the gospel had indeed been preached in all the world.  We can get into arguments about what the word "world" met but we should always recognize that though the bible was written for us it was not written to us. The people who were concerned about the destruction of the temple, where not one stone would be left on another, had a particular understanding of what Jesus said. That is the primary meaning of the scripture. To try to apply any other meaning, even if it were inspired, would be Eisegesis.

 

But I digress.  My main point is that Jesus did things the right way, the way his Father instructed him. It was not always easy as we can see in his transient struggle in the garden of Gethsemane but the Father's will did prevail.

 

• ³⁶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
• ³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
• ³⁸ Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
• ³⁹ And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matt. 26:35-39).

 

Jesus came to earth on a mission, to redeem mankind by dying as a sacrificial lamb and he arose again as a High priest to present His blood of atonement in the most Holy place in the Tabernacle in heaven then he re-emerged from the Tabernacle and appeared to many so that mankind could know that the His sacrifice was accepted by the Father and that their sins were indeed atoned for. If as a man he was not born with the knowledge of His earthly destiny, at some point he received a revelation of it. Yet as his time approached he seemed to be in great distress. His closest earthly companions were not there for him but the father sent angels to minister and strengthen Him. There is so much that can be gleaned from this. However for our purpose, it is comforting to know that there will be times when we feel overwhelmed and those around to whom was not the charge or vision or directive from God may abandon us that God will send encouragement.